Aaron Horsman: New City of Greater Geraldton councillor banned from driving for eight months for drink-driving

New City of Greater Geraldton councillor Aaron Horsman has been banned from driving after pleading guilty to a drink-driving offence from late last year. Horsman, 51, endorsed a plea of guilty to one count of exceeding 0.08 and was sentenced without needing to appear in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Friday. In a letter to the court, Horsman wrote he wasn’t expecting to consume as much as he did. The court was told Horsman was driving on Sanford Street at 11.25pm on Saturday, November 18 when officers stopped him and conducted a random breath test in which he blew about 0.083. In his letter to the court, Horsman apologised for not making it to court and said he could not appear because he had childcare obligations. The letter explained Horsman wasn’t expecting to consume as much as he did when he visited a friend. He said a drink was poured and he didn’t realise how much alcohol was in the glass once it was diluted. Magistrate Angus Hockton granted Horsman the minimum sentence “given the low level reading”. He was handed an eight-month disqualification from driving and ordered to pay a $1600 fine plus $272.72 in prosecution costs. Outside court, Horsman said he respected the court’s decision and was disappointed in himself. “I apologise profusely to my family, friends and supporters, the electorate of Greater Geraldton and my fellow councillors,” he said. “Nobody could be more disappointed in my actions than I am personally, and I will go forward in representing the people that voted for me, that support me, and the City as a whole.” Horsman was elected to the council in October. He also ran for mayor and although unsuccessful in that race, he played a key role in the ultimate outcome after preferences were distributed. When deputy mayor Jerry Clune narrowly beat incumbent Shane Van Styn for the top job, a fifth seat opened up on council, which Horsman claimed by just nine votes. Horsman, a single father, came to prominence as an ant-vaccine mandate campaigner and previously ran in the North West Central by-election in 2022 for the No Mandatory Vaccination Party.